Now Trending

Hot Copy

Books for the nomad in all of us.

Looking for a novel to inspire travel and put you in the mood for adventure? From Nigeria and Colombia to India and Jamaica, we curated some of the best books set in far off places.

Homegoing

by Yaa Gyasi

An epic family drama that travels between Ghana and the United States across seven generations starting in the 1500s. The debut novel by Gyasi, who was born in Ghana and grew up in Alabama, has been making all the top lists for its lyricism, historical scope, and attention to the effects of the slave trade in both Africa and America.

Blackass

by A. Igoni Barrett

What happens when a Nigerian man wakes up to find that he’s suddenly white? A whole lot of drama, to say the least. And while it may be easier for him to get a job and a beautiful girlfriend, it’s not so easy to leave his friends, family, and culture behind. Smart, insightful, and brimming with dark humor.

A Brief History of Seven Killings

by Marlon James

Winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize, this tale jumps around from the 60s to present day in both Jamaica and the United States. It is told from multiple points of view including those of gangsters, reporters, the deceased, and those closest to “the singer” (Bob Marley). Much of the novel is written in Jamaican patois, adding an extra level of immersion.

The Year of the Runaways

by Sunjeev Sahota

The newest offering from Sahota, written in four novella-length chapters, focuses on three Indians and one British-Indian woman living in Sheffield, England. The author explores issues that face Indian immigrants—effects of a caste system, differing ideas about love and marriage, racism—and the ways people succeed or fail in modern-day England.

The Veins of the Ocean

by Patricia Engel

From Cartagena to Miami, readers follow the life of Reina, whose brother is in jail after committing an unthinkable crime. As a means of coping, Reina moves to a small town in the Florida Keys and meets Nesto, an exiled Cuban who helps her deal with her family’s baggage and her own relationship to grief.

The Association of Small Bombs

by Karan Mahajan

Set mostly in India, the second novel by Mahajan examines the aftermath of a bombing in Dehli. He explores characters with an incredible level of complexity and nuance, making this an important read for those who want to better understand the effects of terrorism on both a micro and macro level.

Here I Am Jonathan Safran Foer

by Jonathan Safran Foer

After more than a decade of literary silence, Foer (most well-known for the wildly successful Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) follows an American Jewish family living in a time when Israel is invaded and the Middle East is dealing with the destruction of an earthquake. While urgent in tone, Foer still manages to bring his blend of irreverence and creativity to the table.